SIDELIGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 232, 27 June 1932, Page 11

SIDELIGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE

Play and Players

SHEARER SCORES AN OLD HAND’S TRY Slither and Slush Campiouship points in the Wellington senior A competition are as follow Poneke 21, Petone 19, Eastbourne 16, Wellington 15, Hutt 14, Oriental 10, Marist 10, Athletic 10, University 8, Wellington College Old Boys 6, Berhampore 2, Miramar 1. It was unfortunate that heavy grounds and frequent rain showers should spoil the football on Saturday, as the draw looked like producing good games, and had an important bearing on the championship. Still football is a winter pastime, and it is well for players to get an occasional try-out under bad conditions.

The real highlight of the Poneke-Hutt game was the try scored by J. Shearer, the Poneke captain. Poneke were awarded a free kick about ten yards from the Hutt line, and in the couple of seconds Hutt took to take up a defensive position Shearer had gently kicked the ball toward the line, dribbled it past two Hutt men and scored in the corner. The movement was one that only an old Rugby head like Shearer’s could conceive, and It caught Hutt completely off their guard.

Killeen was one of the few Hutt backs who appreciated the right tactics to adopt on a slushy ground. Some of his footwork was high-class.

Hutt lost a golden opportunity of at least sharing the honours with Poneke when Nees charged in after Killeen 8 centring kick, and with a hefty boot dispatched the ball to the dead ball area, when only a gentle tap was required to make a try certain and one right beside the posts.

Jarman and Payne, the oposing fullbacks In the match at Athletic Park, both played solid games under trying conditions. Jarman was the more dependable of the two, his handling of the greasy ball being safe and confident. u ♦ ♦

Hutt might have fared better hi their match with Poneke had they thoroughly tested the opposing backs by putting the ball In the air. Except on isolated occasions they'failed to make a great deal of progress with their footwork, as the Poneke defences were sound. However, they gained ground each time they put the ball aloft, and it was surprising that they did not persist with this method of attack in the second spell in preference to trying to ‘beat Poneke with footwork. • • •

For the last few weeks Love has been the outstanding back in the Berhampore team, and he played another fine game for his side on Saturday against University. He started at centre, and later moved to second five-eighths. He was elusive and speedy, and hard to pull down.

Jolly’s performance in kicking three penalty goals, Athletic’s total score, was a fine one. AU the goals were from difficult positions. He had several other unsuccessful shots, at various times, but none were from easy positions, and with the strong wind blowing his performance was very creditable. ♦ ♦ *

If there is one sight which spectators enjoy it is to see a player take his bath in an impromptu lagoon. Ihose spectators who braved the bitter cold prevailing at the Polo Ground were rewarded by seeing Thomson dive into « good pool for Miramar's opening try., Following close behind him, an Athletic pursuer foUowed his example. ♦ » ♦

The element of luck played a large part in the Eastbourne-WeUjngtou game, and it was a match in which either team could equally ]>e declared hkely to win right up to the call of time. Wellington had all the better of the fi«t twenty minutes, and then Eastbourne had the advantage. Then for the first twenty minutes of the second spell Wellington had Eastbourne completely bottled up in twenty-five and toward the end of the game Eastbourne were again holding the upper hand. Both sides missed chances to increase their score.

GressweU and Dingle, the respective full-backs, both played good S amaa - Dingle had more defensive work to do, and he reached a high standard. Cresswell was solid and safe, and his movement for Wellington’s winning try was a real highlight. Eastbourne were defending in their own twenty-five when the ball was kicked right down to Cresswell. He fielded it safely, and then made a forty yard run across the field. He passed to Johnson and then it went on to Prvde, who scored without opposition. The movement paralysed the Eastbourne players, only two of whom moved to stop it. * # *

E. Foley was unable to play for Eastbourne, and his place in the centre of the three-quarter line was taken by 1’ uller, who made a success of the j>osition and played well. Hamilton made his reappearance, and, taking care of his knee, sur* vived a hard game without any recurrence of the trouble, playing a good game. * *

Coman played what many consider his best game of the season, and all the J3ay. forwards stood up well to the AY ellington pack, in which Giles and Fel» were conspicuous. Fleming played soundly in the five-eighth line for the Bay, and a Pi'cmoted junior, Reid, on the wing, idled the position with

Drader, wiio played for the Tukapa club in Taranaki, is now playing with Eastbourne, and lie had his second game on Saturday. He will be one of the leading forwards of the Bay team, and on Saturday with air improvement in his fitness he showed up well.

Johnson played a fine game for XVellington. He was always in the thick of the play, and his defensive game was very solid.

Ball had the misfortune to be injured just before half-time. In a perfectly fair tackle the shock gave him slight concussion and he left the field.

Stiver is another Marist man who played well under difficult circumstances. His true position on the field seems to be that of wing-fbrward. He battled strongly in the pack against the formidable Oriental forwards, and on occasions merged will: the back line in scoring movements. WELLINGTON TEAM To Play Taranaki The Wellington Rugby representatives will play their annual match with Laranaki at Hawera on Wednesday. Mr. J. N. Millard has selected the following players represent Wellington: — Full-back: Masters (Old Boys), Three-quarters: Hamilton (Eastbourne). Killeen (I-lutt). Macdonald (Marist). Five-eighths: Griffiths (Poneke), Neal (Poneke). Half-back: Tindlll (Athletic). Forwards: Quaid (Poneke), Lainbourne (Petone). Diederieh (University), captain. Stone (Poneke). J. Wilson (Hutt). Reid (Petone). Peck (Hutt), Stiver (Marist) Emergencies: Back, Hislop (University;: forward, Bydder (Old Boys). Martin (Petone), McPherson (Poneke), and Creswell (Wellington) were not available to make the trip. The team will travel to Hawera by the New Plymouth exprese to-morrow.